Yasmin is primarily a contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy. It is a combination medicine that consists of two hormonal drugs — Drospirenone (a synthetic progestin hormone) and Ethinyl Estradiol (a synthetic estrogen hormone).
It is also a prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of PCOS like moderate acne and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder or PMDD (a severe extension of PMS with drastic mood swings that can disrupt the quality of life and damage relationships). This medication can help women suffering from PCOS with their menstrual cycle.
Start PCOS Treatment Free Nutrition GuideYasmin is a combination of two synthetic hormones — estrogen and progestin. Along with helping prevent pregnancy, it also regulates the menstrual cycle, reduces excessive blood loss and pain during periods and decreases the risk of developing ovarian cysts in women with PCOS.
It is used as a birth control medication and also to treat acne and irregular periods in women with PCOS.
Ocella is the generic name of the brand-name drug Yasmin. It belongs to the class of contraceptives, oral oestrogens/progestins.
Yasmin contains synthetic female hormones, Drospirenone (a synthetic progestin hormone) and Ethinyl Estradiol (a synthetic estrogen hormone), that prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs. It also causes changes in the cervical mucus and the lining of the uterus, making it difficult for the sperm to reach the uterus and even harder for a fertilised egg to attach itself to the uterine walls.
The synthetic hormones help women with PCOS prevent hyper-androgenic symptoms like acne and disturbed menstrual cycles. It also prevents the body from losing too much blood during periods. Women who have excessively painful periods can benefit from this medication, but you must consult your doctor before opting for it.
It is dispensed in the form of tablets and each strip of this medicine contains 21 pills.
Excessive male hormones in the body can cause symptoms like acne and irregular periods. Yasmin contains synthetic female hormones, Drospirenone (a synthetic progestin hormone) and Ethinyl Estradiol (a synthetic estrogen hormone), that help PCOS women prevent hyper-androgenic symptoms like acne and disturbed menstrual cycles. It also prevents the body from losing too much blood during periods. Women who have excessively painful periods can benefit from this medication as well, but you must only do so under medical supervision.
Apart from preventing unwanted pregnancy, Yasmin can help reduce excruciating pain during periods. Women with PCOS can also benefit from this medication with regard to acne and irregular periods.
Moreover, conditions like ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, lumpy breasts, ectopic pregnancy (a condition where the foetus is carried outside the womb) and cancer of the uterus and ovaries are less likely to occur in women taking this medicine.
A strip of 21 tablets of Yasmin comes at an MRP of INR 545 as of 2022.
For birth control, it is advised to take one pill every day, no more than 24 hours apart. You could get pregnant if you do not take the pill daily. You may also experience breakthrough bleeding during the first three months of taking the pill, however, consult your doctor if the bleeding is continuous or heavy.
When taking the pill for PCOS symptoms, your dosage will completely depend on your symptoms and this medication must only be taken under the supervision of your doctor.
Common side effects of Yasmin include nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness, headache, mood swings, fatigue, changes in the menstrual cycle like spotting and irregular bleeding and decreased libido.
These side effects mostly diminish once your body adjusts to the medicine, but if you experience any severity of the above-mentioned side effects or experience any unusual symptoms, you must consult with your doctor without any delay.
Yasmin may interact with aromatase inhibitors (such as exemestane and anastrozole), fosamprenavir, atazanavir/cobicistat, tamoxifen, tizanidine, ospemifene, tranexamic acid and certain combination products used to treat chronic hepatitis C.
Inform your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking to ensure no drug interactions.
Although there are no strict guidelines in terms of foods to avoid, it is advised to limit the amount of caffeine you consume daily as it can interfere with the pill's efficacy.
Furthermore, you should strictly avoid smoking as it may increase your risk of blood clots and cardiac arrest.
Generic substitutes for Yasmin are as follows, however, do not opt for any alternatives before consulting with your doctor
Do not take Yasmin if you are pregnant or are trying to conceive. Speak to your doctor before you stop taking the pill and if you’re planning to conceive. It is important to manage your PCOS symptoms and regularise your period before you plan on conceiving. Also, it is safe to try to get pregnant right after you’ve stopped taking birth control pills, as your hormones will go back to normal within a few days.
Here are some of the most common questions surrounding Yasmin tablet
Yes, Yasmin is a birth control pill and is used to avoid unwanted pregnancy as well as help treat the symptoms of PCOS.
Periods usually begin as per your normal menstrual cycle as your body goes back to ovulating, provided you have made the required lifestyle changes and sustain it. However, it also depends on what your usual cycle is like. Your weight, health, stress and exercise may affect your period. Not treating the hormonal imbalances in PCOS can also influence and cause irregularities in your menstrual cycle.
Yes, Yasmin contains synthetic estrogen in the form of the hormonal drug - Ethinyl Estradiol.
Yes, Yasmin is a combination birth control pill. It consists of two hormonal drugs — Drospirenone (a synthetic progestin hormone) and Ethinyl Estradiol (a synthetic estrogen hormone).
